awww crap! seized the motor.. now what?

[PatrickInNC]

Completely unlike me. I have had all this stuff going on, and I forgot to check my oil. I am normally very pro active on this front. It just sucks, I just got everything the way I like it, no more oil leaks, and such.

Well.... what now. I am semi-interested in getting it back on the road again. I don't necessarily need the bike, but I enjoyed using it, and it did very well for me as a commuter and something I didn't have to worry about being stolen.  I bought it for $500, but probably $1210 in parts wrapped up in it. So whats my next move? Engines are pretty cheap I assume. Guess finding one close to me is the hardest thing to do. Whats average cost of a motor? Or, how hard is it to fix it? It definetely wasn't fun opening up the oil cap, and seeing smoke pouring out of the crankcase. Doh!

Of course hindsight is 20/20, I mean, air cooled motors use more oil in the heat, i live in ALOT of heat, i haven't checked oil level in awhile. So I had it coming, just wished I would have caught myself.

Well look forward to your responses.

[Trwhouse]

Hi Patrick,

Sorry to hear about your bike, but I just don't understand how several other people recently have "seized" their GS500 engines. These things are bulletproof and with proper care, these things just don't happen. So what happened do you think?
My 1991 GS500E doesn't burn oil nor does it leak it at 20K miles.
I'm just not sure why a recent group of riders has been having this problem.
Nevertheless, here is an engine you may want to check out.
This guy's got an engine, but I think his prices are WAY too high. He says he will negotiate offers, so it can't hurt to try.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=36998.0
He's in KY, however.

Good luck,
Todd

[werase643]

guessing 250-600 +75-100 shipping

takes about 3 hrs if you take your time to swap it(R&R)

it will cost the same range to rebuild but takes weeks to wait for parts/services

[bosozoku]

Completely unlike me. I have had all this stuff going on, and I forgot to check my oil. I am normally very pro active on this front. It just sucks, I just got everything the way I like it, no more oil leaks, and such.

Are you sure it's seized -- did you try starting it after letting it cool down?  GS500s are tough little mofos...  If it's a top end seize, try putting penetrating oil into the cylinders over night and then trying to break things loose by push starting in 6th gear.  Can't hurt at this point, just be careful not to skid out

-b.

[PatrickInNC]

Thanks guys,

I don't have the time nor patience to rebuild. I bought this thing in september 2005, and have just recently got it all sorted. From gaskets leaking oil, to fuel issues. Sux it happened.

I'm assuming it happened because I haven't checked the oil, or because as I said above it had fuel issues, and gas got into the oil. I was going to change the oil, but forgot. I don't know how low it is on oil, i think i will go down now, and drain it out to see. I checked it probably a month ago, and it had enough oil then. I'm assuming I ran out of oil though. I think, its my fault for what happened, but I'll go drain the oil and see if that really it. I agree these things are bulletproof, and I was surprised when it happened. I just wish I could eliminate any fault on my part, but I can't because I neglected it. I don' tknow if the things I neglected were catastrophic, but I'm assuming they were.

I posted to that guy about the motor. I too thought his prices were too high, but his prices include shipping, and who knows how much that would be KY, to Las Vegas. Also worries me that he raced it, but if he kept good maintenance then it should be fine.

My motor had 21k on it. I would not say I rode the bike easy, but until this point have been very thorough on upkeep. My commute usually involves interstate riding at around 85mph, which makes the guy run at 7500-8500 rpm.

oh well, thanks guys

[PatrickInNC]

hmmm,... good idea.

it locked up about a mile after I started it on coming home from work. How hot could it have gotten at that point?

If you want to put penetrating oil in, how would you go about that? take off the head?

And I would much rather swap motors than rebuild. I've got the tools to do it, shouldn't be bad.

[bosozoku]

hmmm,... good idea.

it locked up about a mile after I started it on coming home from work. How hot could it have gotten at that point?

If you want to put penetrating oil in, how would you go about that? take off the head?

Remove the plugs?

The issue isn't complete overheating but local overheating, BTW.  Without adequate oil, the rings will gall to the cylinder walls.  If you get it running, it will probably smoke quite a bit, and you'll need new rings at the least.

-b.

[PatrickInNC]

Thanks guys...

I soaked the motor all day with penetrating oil all day. I ran it down the driveway, and it un seized. Ok good...

Probably had about 1 qt or so of oil in it..

I've put new oil in it,  so what now? Should I try to crank it?

I want to make sure I keep moving forward on this, as I'm impressed with the results thus far.

[The Buddha]

OH ... it locked up OK lack of oil will most definetly booger up the bottom end. How come it seized the top
Anyway if you decide its done ... I need one for my evil experiment ... bike without motor ... or yes a dead motor.
Remember, I can drive up and pick up ... no mailing sheite out to anywhere.
Cool.
Srinath.

[PatrickInNC]

didn't you see above post?

Its now moving freely again... in that.... its unseized.

damn lack of oil.... So what now?

[Trwhouse]

Hi again Patrick,
OK, now it's "unseized."
But while you have freed it, that DOESN'T mean that it's undamaged.
You should tear it down and see what's damaged, then rebuild it, otherwise it's only a matter of time before it does it again.
Damaged or "seized" metal does not heal itself magically.
Would you feel comfortable riding this bike at speed on an engine that has locked up once already and not been properly disassembled and repaired? What happens when it siezes again at 65 mph on the highway? Will you survive that experience?
I certainly would not.
Do it the right way and be safe.
Good luck,
Todd

[PatrickInNC]

ok, good point.....

Thanks for the help guys..

[The Buddha]

Right. Metal has a memory. With a heat seize you have local hot spots and will be warped. you'd have tons of blow by and very very uneven wear. You may wear somehting that at this instant isn't seriously worn (atleast not more than its useage is).
And running low on oil my friend blew his bottom end. You may have damage there but broke somehting else before that.
However ... if you're buying a motor ... ride this, no sense in tossing it before its done dpne done ... Its thrown its arms up, but we say ... screw you and ride ... like my 48K mie 89 ... which indicated several times it was done, I said, you're done when I say you're done and proceeded to flog it. Then I sold it.
Cool.
Srinath.

[poolshark]

Start it up. If there's any fatal damage, it's already done.

[PatrickInNC]

Ok,

Well I'm attempting to start it. I had the plugs out when I put the penetrating oil in, but its slowly trying to run. Think its because of the penetrating oil.

I kinda feel like if it will work, then lets see how it goes.

But I do not hear anything bad sounding. I dunno. I'm going to think about it. I'll probably end up taking it apart, and seeing the damage done. But also, I'm sure its done to the combustion walls, so it would make sense to buy  a new motor anyway right?

[The Buddha]

You first crank it over with the plugs out. then crank it over after putting in a little gasoline ... sorta rinsing the penetrating oil out. Then put plugs back in and crank it.
BTW it can have very high friction due to warpage etc and still fail to crank too well or run too well. You open it to see and you ahve to take it off and hone it etc and replace gaskets. However, I'd not even rebuild an over heat and seize motor ... like I said, metal has a memory.
Cool.
Srinath.